Bag manufacture



Oct. 18, 1960 l.. coAKLEY 2,956,801

BAG MANUFACTURE Filed April 2s, 1958 s sheets-sheet 1 L. COAKLEY BAG MANUFACTURE oct. 18, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23. 1958 FIG.

7 FIGB.

L. COAKLEY BAG MANUFACTURE Oct. 18, 1960 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 25, 195e Q LD w w @v om E .E s u@ m if 1 mc. w f GQ s hm/ n L Q www n n @a S f m gt 3. Y 76%. w/A 5x M States Unite Patented oct. 1s, 1960 BAG MANUFACTURE Lige Coakley, East Pepperell, Mass., assigner to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 730,401

12 Claims. (Cl. 271-5) This invention relates to `apparatus for feeding articles of flexible nature, and more particularly to apparatus for feeding bag tubes.

In the manufacture of multiwall paper bags, it is frequently desired that a succession of individual bag tubes be conveyed down a line along which workers perform operations on the tubes, such as forming valves and applying valve sleeves. This conveying is accomplished by means of an endless belt type of conveyor, the bag tubes lying on an upper generally horizontal reach of the belt, extending transversely of the belt, and preferably in overlapping relation. That is, each tube overlaps the next tube ahead and is overlapped by the next tube back. Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of an apparatus which is adapted to receive a stack of bag tubes and automatically to deliver them from the stack one after another in the desired overlapping relation on to the line conveyor; the provision of apparatus of this class capable of adjustment for varying the extent of overlap of the tubes; and the provision of apparatus such as described which is of economical construction. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the sco-pe of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. l is a side elevation of an apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a right end view of Fig. l, with bag tubes removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 vof Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the same scale as Fig. 4 taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a reduced section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and,

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged fragments of Fig.V 1, Fig. 8 illustrating a moved position of parts.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corressponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, there is generally indicated at 1 in Fig. l the rearward end of a conveyor such as is used in a bag factory for conveying multiwall paper bag tubes T down a line along which workers perform operations on the tubes, such as forming valves and applying valve sleeves. This conveyor comprises an endless belt 3 trained around a rear pulley indicated at 5, and having an upper horizontal reach 3a. The direction of travel of the belt is counterclockwise as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. It is desired that the bag tubes lie on the conveyor extending transversely of the conveyor and in overlapping relation. At 7 is indicated an appa- 2 ratus of this invention for feeding bag tubes T one after another from a stack S onto the upper reach 3a of the belt 3 with the bags in the desired overlapping relation. As shown in Fig. 1, the stack S is positioned on edge, rather than lying at.

The bag tube feeding apparatus 7 comprises an inclined conveyor 9 for feeding bags upward one after another from the edgewise positioned stack S and a horizontal conveyor 11 for lsupporting the stack and advancing it forward toward the inclined up-feed conveyor `9. Conveyor 11 includes a base plate 13, which rests on the oor F. At the sides of the base plate 13 are side plates 15. Extending up from the side plates 15 at the forward end of the base plate 13 are supports 17 for a shaft 19. An endless belt 21 is trained around a forward pulley 23 and a rearward pulley 25. The forward pulley 23 is fixed on a horizontal shaftl 27 journalled at its ends in the side plates 15. The rearward pulley 25 is fixed on a horizontal shaft 29 journalled at its ends in slots 31 in the side plates, and held in the slots by screws 33 threaded in the vertical leg of an angle iron 35 which spans the side plates 15 at the rearward end of the base plate. The belt 21 is thus mounted for travel in a path including a generally horizontal and forwardly movable stack-supporting reach 21a and a lower horizontal reach 2lb. There is also an intermediate pulley 37 for supporting the horizontal reach 21a.

The up-feed conveyor `9 comprisesra base plate 39 and side plates 41 at the sides of this base plate (see Figs. 4 and 5). The side plates 41 have feet 43 extending from their lower ends which are pivoted on the shaft 19. An endless belt '45 is trained around an upper pulley 47 and a lower pulley 49. The upper pulley `47 is fixed on a shaft 51 journalled at its ends in bearings 53 mounted on the side plates 41. The lower pulley 49 is fixed on the shaft 19. The belt 45 is thus mounted for travel in a path including an upwardly movable tube-feeding reach 45a inclined from conveyor 11 in the direction toward the rearward end of the line conveyor 1. Brackets such as indicated at 55 secured to lthe side platesA y41 carry a platen 57 for supporting the tube-feeding reach 45a of the belt 45. Platen 57 has a central longitudinal slot 59 see (Fig. 6). .The belt 45 has a central longitudinal series of openings 61 which register with the slot 59 in the tube-feeding reach l45a of the belt. j

Means is provided for sliding the base plate 13 forward or rearward on the floor F to adjust its position relative to the rearward end of the lconveyor 1. As shown in Fig. l, this comprises -a rotatable rod 63 extending through a hole 65 in' the web `of a transverse channel 67 secured to the supporting framework of conveyor 1 and retained against axial movement by means of collars 69 fixed to the rod on opposite sides of the `web ofthe channel. Rod 63 has a handle 71 at its forward end. Its rearward end is screw-threaded as indicated at 73 and extends through -a tapped hole in a shaft 77 extending between a pair of bosses 79 fixed on the base plate 13 at its forward end. Lock nuts for yrod 63 `are indicated at 80. The upper end of the conveyor 9 is supported by means of `a pair of links 81 extending between the shaft 83 of the pulley 5 of the conveyor 1 and the upper pulley shaft 51 of conveyor 9. The ends of these links are pivoted on shafts 83 and 51, whereby the upper end of conveyor 9 is capable of movement upon forward or rearward adjustment of base plate 13 (this adjustment being accomplished by turning rod 63 in one direction or the other) for adjusting the inclination of conveyor `9.

A chain and sprocket drive 85 (see Fig. l) connects shafts 83 and 51 for driving the up-feed conveyor'belt 45 in counterclockwise direction from the line conveyor belt 3. For the purposes of this invention, this drive is such that belt y45 travels somewhat faster than belt 3.

For example, the speed of belt 45 may -be one and onequarter times that of belt 3. The lower pulley shaft 19 of conveyor 9 carries an electric clutch 87 (see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5). The driving member 89 of this clutch is xed on shaft 19. A chain and sprocket drive 91 connects the driven member 93 of the clutch and the forward pulley shaft 27 of the horizontal conveyor 11. This drive is preferably such that the stack supporting and advancing belt 21 travels somewhat slower than Vthe upfeed conveyor belt 45. For example, `the speed of belt 21 may be four-fifths the speed of belt 45.

Two suction boxes 95 and 97 (see Figs. 1-6) are provided under the tube-feeding reach `45a Vof the upffeed belt 45 spaced along the length of the latter and operative through the openings 61 in lthe'belt for vacuum gripping of bag tubes T to the belt. The box 95, which is the lower box of the two, is adjustable lengthwise of the belt 45. For this purpose, the platen '7 has tracks 99 (see Figs. 4-6) secured to the inside thereof at opposite sides of the slot 59 and projecting beyond the lateral edges 101 of the platen which define the slot. The box 95 has a bottom wall 103, side walls 105 and end walls 187 (see Figs. 3, 5 and 6). It also has extensions 169 of the side walls and an outwardly projecting top flange 111 all around its rim. It is open at its top as indicated at 113. The lateral portions 115 of flange 111 are slidable on the tracks 99, and the'box extends inward between the tracks 99. The outer surface of ange 111 is flush with the outer surface of the platen 57. In the bottom of the box is an opening 117. Fixed in this opening is the stem 119 of a fitting 121. Pivoted on a screw 123 threaded in a block 125 on one of the side plates 41 of conveyor 9 (the left side plate as viewed looking in forward direction) is a box-adjusting lever 127 (see Figs. 1-5). This extends across the conveyor 9 under the platen 57 and is formed to have a slot 129 receiving the stem 119 of the fitting 121. The arrangement is such that by swinging the lever one way or the other, the box 95 is moved up or down on tracks 99. The lever 127, adjacent its free end, has `a slot 131 (see Fig. 2) for receiving any one of a series of pins 133 on a positioning bar 135 for locking the leverand box 95 in adjusted position. The bar 135 is secured to the brackets 55 at the right side of conveyor 9. To disengage the lever from a pin, screw 123 is backed off, then retightened `after re-engagement of the lever with a pin.

The suction box 97, which is the upper of the two suction boxes, is fixed in position adjacent the upper end of the platen 57. It has a bottom wall 137, side walls 139, end walls 141, and an outwardly projecting top flange 143 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 6). It is open at its top as indicated at 145. The lateral portions 147 of flange r143 engage the tracks 99 and are secured thereto to hold the box 97 in xed position. The outer surface of flange 143 is flush with the outer surface of the platen 57. In the bottom of the box is ian opening 149. Fixed in this opening is an elbow 151. Mounted on a bracket 153 on the outside of the base plate 39 of conveyor 9 is a blower 155. The inlet of this blower is connected to the fitting 121 by a flexible hose 157 and fitting 121 is connected to elbow 151 by a flexible hose 159 whereby the blower draws a vacuum in the two suction boxes 95 and 97. Hoses 157 and 159 are flexible to permit adjustment of box 95.

The operation of the electric clutch 87, and hence the operation of the stack-feeding horizontal conveyor 9, is controlled by a detector means generally indicated at 161 in Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 8. This comprises a frame consisting of leftand right-hand side arms 163 and 165 and a rod 167 extending between the upper ends of the arms, arms 163 and 165 being pivoted at their lower ends on a rod 169 mounted in the side plates 15 of the conveyor 9. The rod 169 projects at its ends outward of side plates 15, and arms 163 and 165 are mounted on the end portions of rod `169 outside the side plates 15 and extending upward. Rod

167 extends transversely above the upper reach 21a of belt 21 in position for engagement by tubes T in Stack S. A spring 171 connected to arm 165 biases the frame 163, 165, 167 to swing in rearward direction (clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3) to a retracted position determined by engagement of the head of a screw 173 threaded in arm 163 with a stop 175on the left side plate 15 (see Fig. 8). Screw 173 is adapted, when the frame 163, 165, 167 swings forward, to engage the operating member of a clutch control switch 177. This switch is normally closed, and is opened when screw 173 engages its operating member (see Figs. l and 7).

Operation is as follows:

The belt 45 of the up-feed conveyor 9 is continuously driven from the line conveyor 1 by means of the chain and sprocket drive The blower 155 is continuously operated to draw a vacuum in the suction boxes and 97. The lower box 95 is adjusted (by sliding it up or down) to an appropriate position for obtaining the desired overlap of the bag tubes T on the upper reach 3a of belt 3 of the line conveyor 1. A stack S of bag tubes T is placed edgewise on the upper reach 21a of belt 21 of the conveyor 11 with the foremost tube of the stack engaging the tube-feeding reach 45a of the up-feed conveyor belt 45. The lower forward end portion of the stack engages rod 167 of frame 163, 165, 167 and holds the latter forward against the bias of spring 171 so that screw 173 holds switch 177 open (Figs. 1 and 7). Accordingly, the clutch `87 is deenergized, and belt 21 of conveyor 11 is not driven.

The foremost bag tube T is vacuum-gripped to the upwardly travelling reach 45a of the up-feed conveyor belt 45 and fed upward. When its lower edge has passed beyond the lower suction box 95, the upper suction box 97 maintains the vacuum grip of the tube to the belt so that the upward feed of the tube is continued, and the lower Suction box 95 is then effective to vacuum grip the second tube T to the reach 45a of belt 45 to feed this second tube upward. This pick-up of the second tube by the belt 45 occurs before the lower edge of the first tube has passed beyond the upper edge of the second tube; accordingly the tubes are fed upward in overlapping relation. Similarly, when the lower edge of the second tube has passed beyond the lower suction box 95, the third tube is picked up and fed upward, and so on for the successive tubes. As the tubes travel upward beyond the upper end of the conveyor 9, they bend over forward and are delivered on to the upper reach 3a of line conveyor belt 3 in the desired overlapping relation.

When a number of tubes T have been fed upwardly from the forward end of the edgewise stack S, the inclination of the stack increases. As this occurs, the frame 163, 165, 167 swings rearward and, before the inclination of the stack becomes too much for the lower suction box 95 to accomplish the vacuum gripping of tubes T, the frame swings rearward far enough to allow switch 177 to close (see Fig. 8). This energizes the electric clutch 87 to drive the belt 21 of the conveyor 11, and this feeds forward the bottom portion of the stack to bring the stack back to its original inclination. In moving forward, the bottom portion of the stack effects forward swinging of the frame 163, 165, 167 to open the switch and deenergize the clutch (see Figs. 1 and 7).

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding articles of flat flexible nature, Suchas bag tubes, one after another in overlapping relation froma stack thereof, comprising an up-feed conveyor for feeding the articles in upward direction, means for supporting a stack of the articles in edgewise position with a foremost article of the stack engaging the up-feed conveyor, said means being adapted for moving the stack in the direction toward the up-feed conveyor, said conveyor having a longitudinal series of openings therein, and suction means associated with said up-feed conveyor adapted to exhaust air through said openings from under said foremost article thereby to grip it to said conveyor for feeding it upward, said suction means being spaced above said stack-supporting means whereby successive articles are fed upward in overlapping relation.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stacksupporting means comprises a conveyor adapted to advance the stack toward the up-feed conveyor, and wherein means is provided for discontinuously operating said stack-supporting conveyor in response to the up-feed of a number of articles from the stack.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said discontinuous operating means comprises a movable detector engageable by the lower forward end portion of the stack and held thereby in a retracted position wherein the stacksupporting conveyor is out of operation until the up-feed of a number of articles from the stack, whereupon the detector moves to a position for initiating operation of the stack-supporting conveyor.

4. Apparatus for feeding articles of flat exible nature, such as bag tubes, one `after another in overlapping relation from a stack thereof, comprising an up-feed conveyor for feeding the articles in upward direction, means for supporting a stack of the articles in edgewise position with a foremost article of the stack engaging the up-feed conveyor, said means being adapted for moving the stack in the direction toward the up-feed conveyor, and suction means associated with said up-feed conveyor for gripping articles thereto to feed them upward, said suction means being spaced above said stack-supporting means whereby successive articles are fed upward in overlapping relation, said up-feed conveyor comprising an endless belt mounted for travel in a path including an inclined upwardly travelling article-feeding reach, the stack-supporting means being adapted to support the stack in edgewise position leaning against said reach, said belt having a longitudinal series of openings therein, and said suction means comprising `a suction box located on the inside of said article-feeding reach in line with said series of openings.

5. Apparatus for feeding 4articles of at flexible nature, such as bag tubes, one after another in overlapping relation from a stack thereof, comprising an up-feed conveyor for feeding the articles in upward direction, means for supporting a stack of the articles in edgewise position with a foremost article of the stack engaging the up-feed conveyor, said means being adapted for moving the stack in the direction toward the up-feed conveyor, and suction means associated with said up-feed conveyor for gripping articles thereto to feed -them upward, said suction means being spaced above said stack-supporting means whereby successive articles are fed upward in overlapping relation, said up-feed conveyor comprising an endless belt mounted for travel in a path including an inclined upwardly travelling article-feeding reach, the stack-supporting means being adapted to support the stack in edgewise position leaning against said reach, said belt having a longitudinal series of openings therein, and said suction means comprising two suction boxes located on the inside of said article-feeding reach in line with said series of openings and spaced along said reach.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the lower of the two suction boxes is mounted for movement to different positions of adjustment lengthwise of the articlefeeding reach in line with said series of openings.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the stacksupporting means comprises a conveyor including an endless belt mounted for travel in a path including a generally horizontal forwardly movable upper stack-supporting reach, and wherein means is provided for discontinuously operating said stack-supporting conveyor in response to the up-feed of a number of `articles from the stack.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said discontinuous operating means comprises a movable detector including -a member extending over said upper stack- -supporting reach engageable by the lower forward end portion of the stack and held thereby in a retracted position wherein the stack-supporting conveyor is out of operation until the up-feed of a number of articles from the stack, whereupon the detector moves to a position for initiating operation of the stack-supporting conveyor.

9. Apparatus for feeding bag tubes one after another in overlapping relation from a stack thereof on to a line conveyor, comprising a stack-supporting conveyor rearward of the line conveyor, said stack-supporting conveyor comprising an endless belt mounted for travel in a path including a generally horizontal forwardly movable upper stack-supporting reach, an up-feed conveyor extending upwardly from the forward end of the stack-supporting conveyor to the rearward end of the line conveyor, said up-feed conveyor being pivotally mounted at its lower end for swinging on a -transverse axis and having its upper end supported by links extending from the rearward end of the line conveyor, said up-feed conveyor comprising an endless belt mounted for travel in a path including an upwardly travelling tube-feeding reach inclined from the stack-supporting conveyor in the direction toward the rearward end of the line conveyor, said upper reach of the stack-supporting conveyor being adapted to support a stack in edgewise position leaning against said tubefeed-ing reach of the up-feed conveyor belt, said up-feed conveyor belt having a longitudinal series of openings therein, and two suction boxes located on the inside of said tube-feeding reach in line with said series of openings and spaced along said tube-feeding reach.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said stack-supporting conveyor is adapted to be driven from said up-feed conveyor by a drive including a clutch, and wherein control means is provided for engaging the clutch in response to the up-feed of a number of articles from the stack and disengaging the clutch upon adv-ance of the stack by the stack-supporting conveyor.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said clutch is an electric clutch and said control means cornprises a control switch for the clutch, and means engageable by the lower forward end portion of the stack for operating the switch.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the upfeed conveyor includes a platen over which the tube-feedlng reach of the up-feed conveyor belt travels, said platen having a longitudinal slot therein, and the lower of the two suction boxes being slidable in said slot to different positlions of adjustment lengthwise of said tube-feeding reac References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,163,732 Kleineberg et al. June 27, 1939 2,572,509 No'vck Oct. 23, 1951 2,621,928 Lauifer Dec. 16, 1952 2,624,576 Laulfer Jan. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 711,225 Great Britain June 30, 1954 

